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CNF21-04
Chalcopyrite
Tonglushan district, Daye Co., Huangshi, Hubei, China
Cabinet, 11.1 x 6.0 x 3.6 cm
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This botryoidal variety of chalcopyrite, often referred to as "blister copper," have a similar appearance to classic finds from Cornwall, England, but on steroids! This bubbling, brassy cluster is from a small find we acquired in late 2019 from the famed copper-rich area near Daye, in the old copper mining region of central China. This is an imposing example, with botryoids ranging greatly in size across the 12 cm specimen, and a 4 cm column juts up in stark contrast to the dark grey/black, granular magnetite matrix. Along the bottom of the specimen, iron-stained calcites in hues of white and orange accent the chalcopyrite forms. It looks sculptural and biological at the same time, and is immediately and viscerally dramatic in a showcase for its shape and shine. We only had under a dozen specimens of this material, and this is one of the best, for display but also in terms of the size of the growths and bubble-like formations.